US5344324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for testing human performance
Assignee: Nova Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1992-07-15
•
Granted: 1994-09-06
•
Expires: 2012-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for testing human performance by measuring ability to employ job-related skills in an environment requiring skill switching in the presence of a forced attention shift. A human operator is tested by use of a monitor display upon which are presented an alternating sequence of primary tasks requiring utilization of different skills. A keyboard and a joy-stick are disclosed for use in performing the tasks. A danger indicating icon is presented along with the primary task, and the operator is forced to respond to danger indications thereof by operating a switch which is provided for that purpose.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. O'Donnell
- 👤 Samuel L. Moise, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; G; G16; G16H; G16H10/00; G16H10/60; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/63; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of measuring the ability of an operator to perform a job-related activity comprising the steps of: (1) presenting to said operator a plurality of occurrences of a first task requiring the utilization of a first skill associated with said activity; (2) presenting to said operator a plurality of occurrences of a second task requiring utilization of a second skill which is different from said first skill and which is also associated with said activity; (3) pseudorandomly controlling the sequence of presentation of said first and second tasks, so that said operator is forced to switch back and forth between said first and second skills without being able to anticipate the number of consecutive occurrences of said first task which will follow an occurrence of said second task; and (4) recording data indicating the success of said operator in performing said first and second tasks.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of measuring the ability of an operator to perform a job-related activity comprising the steps of: (1) presenting to said operator a plurality of occurrences of a first task requiring the utilization of a first skill associated with said activity; (2) presenting to said operator a plurality of occurrences of a second task requiring utilization of a second skill which is different from said first skill and which is also associated with said activity; (3) pseudorandomly controlling the sequence of presentation of said first and second tasks, so that said operator is forced to switch back and forth between said first and second skills without being able to anticipate the number of consecutive occurrences of said first task which will follow an occurrence of said second task; and (4) recording data indicating the success of said operator in performing said first and second tasks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein one of said tasks in a cognitive task involving mental processing of a plurality of different, cognitively relevant stimuli, each subject to occurrence in a plurality of different states; said method further comprising the step of displaying a balanced and pseudorandomly ordered presentation of all combinations of said stimuli and said states.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of presenting an attention shifting display to said operator during his performance of at least one of said first and second tasks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said attention shifting step comprises the sub-steps of: (1) creating a display of an icon which is selectively presentable between a range of safe conditions and a range of danger conditions, (2) providing said operator with danger response means for generating a danger response signal when one of said danger conditions is displayed, and (3) while said icon is being presented within said range of danger conditions, testing for a generation of said danger response signal by said operator and modifying said icon for presentation in a safe condition if said danger response signal is detected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said attention shifting step is performed during both of said first and second tasks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein one of said first and second tasks requires said operator to utilize a cognitive skill and the other of said first and second tasks requires said operator to utilize a motor skill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of generating a pseudorandom sequence of balanced numbers and using said sequence to control the presentation of at least one of said first and second tasks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein one of said first and second tasks requires said operator to utilize a skill associated with recognition of a spatial orientation and the other of said first and second tasks requires said operator to utilize a skill associated with eye-hand coordination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for testing the skill switching ability of a human operator comprising: a monitor for displaying a graphical presentation to be observed by said human operator, graphics control means for causing said monitor to display an attention shifting icon and a sequential series of tasks, said series of tasks comprising tasks of a first type requiring said human operator to utilize a cognitive skill and tasks of a second type requiring said human operator to utilize a motor skill, attention response means for operation by said human operator to generate attention response signals related to a predetermined condition of said attention shifting icon, cognitive response means operable during the display by said monitor of tasks of said first type to receive cognitive responses from said human operator and generate corresponding cognitive response signals, motor response means operable during the display by said monitor of tasks of said second type to receive motor responses from said human operator and generate corresponding motor response signals, and computing means responsive to said attention response signals, said cognitive response signals and said motor response signals for computing a performance score for said human operator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for testing the skill switching ability of a human operator comprising: a monitor for displaying a graphical presentation to be observed by said human operator, graphics control means for causing said monitor to display an attention shifting icon and a sequential series of tasks, said series of tasks comprising tasks of a first type requiring said human operator to utilize a cognitive skill and tasks of a second type requiring said human operator to utilize a motor skill, attention response means for operation by said human operator to generate attention response signals related to a predetermined condition of said attention shifting icon, cognitive response means operable during the display by said monitor of tasks of said first type to receive cognitive responses from said human operator and generate corresponding cognitive response signals, motor response means operable during the display by said monitor of tasks of said second type to receive motor responses from said human operator and generate corresponding motor response signals, and computing means responsive to said attention response signals, said cognitive response signals and said motor response signals for computing a performance score for said human operator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according the claim 9 wherein said computing means and said graphics control means are combined within a common computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said computing means comprises means for causing said monitor to display graphics for said series of tasks in a balanced pseudorandom sequence.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said attention response means comprises a switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cognitive response means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said motor response means comprises a joy-stick.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of measuring the impairment of a human subject comprising the steps of conducting a performance test of said human subject as a base test, thereafter repeating said performance test, and comparing the results of the repeated performance test against the base test; said performance test comprising the steps of: (1) presenting a cognitive task to said human subject; (2) presenting a motor task to said human subject; (3) forcing said human subject to perform said cognitive task and said motor task sequentially on a pseudorandomly alternating basis.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of measuring the impairment of a human subject comprising the steps of conducting a performance test of said human subject as a base test, thereafter repeating said performance test, and comparing the results of the repeated performance test against the base test; said performance test comprising the steps of: (1) presenting a cognitive task to said human subject; (2) presenting a motor task to said human subject; (3) forcing said human subject to perform said cognitive task and said motor task sequentially on a pseudorandomly alternating basis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3483302A
Cited
US3390397A
Cited
US3357115A
Cited
US3579865A
Cited
US3901215A
Cited
US3811116A
Cited
US3892053A
Cited
US3918176A
Cited
US4006539A
Cited
US4166452A
Cited
US4325697A
Cited
US4683891A
Cited
US4486180A
Cited
US4541806A
Cited
US4750888A
Cited
US4671772A
Cited
US4770636A
Cited
US4854329A
Cited
US4983125A
Cited
US4978303A
Cited
US5103408A
Cited
US5169319A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-05 | 1998-03-07 | 1998-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-05 | 2002-03-07 | 2002-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-03-07 | 2006-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |